Gordon's School
Gordon's School is an independent boarding and day school in Woking, Surrey, founded in 1885, serving students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13 with tuition-based recurring revenue, eleven boarding houses, and award-winning academic and pastoral provision.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1885
- HeadquartersWoking, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Gordon's School does
Gordon's School is an independent fee-paying boarding and day school in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom, founded in 1885 and serving students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13. The school operates eleven named boarding houses (Augusta, Balmoral, Buckingham, China, Gravesend, Kensington, Khartoum, Sandringham, Victoria, Windsor, Woolwich) alongside day boarding provision, with approximately 188 employees. The core educational product spans Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, offering 26+ GCSE and A-Level subjects plus BTEC pathways, the Extended Project Qualification, a Liberal Arts interdisciplinary course, and TEFL qualification. Beyond academics, the school runs 14 sports with 1,000+ fixtures annually, 100+ co-curricular activities, Pipes and Drums, Combined Cadet Force, Model United Nations, and Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes, supported by dedicated Oxbridge preparation and an alumni network (The Gordonians).
The business model centres on recurring annual tuition and boarding fees, supplemented by ancillary revenue streams including an online merchandise shop, venue hire of school facilities, and facilitated insurance schemes through Marsh Brokers and AXA Healthcare. The technology stack is commodity-based (Juniper Education CMS, Vimeo, Google Analytics, YouTube, Google Maps) with no proprietary platform or AI capabilities. The school is governed by a board of trustees as a non-profit educational charity, with capital supplemented by The Gordon Foundation, the 1885 Bursary Fund, 1885 Legacy Society, and Friends of Gordon's parent network.
The school's competitive positioning rests on a long heritage, Outstanding Ofsted rating across all inspection categories (2024), TES Boarding School of the Year 2022, Gold United Against Bullying status, top 5% A-Level progress ranking, and ten PTI Subject Leadership marks. Specialist support for Forces Families (CEA and HM Forces Education pathways), academic and sports scholarships, and means-tested bursaries broaden the addressable pupil pool. Strategic partnerships with Harlequins Rugby, Arete Schools Partnership, Active Surrey, and Sports Leaders UK reinforce academic and co-curricular differentiation, while the Gordonians alumni association sustains long-term community engagement and fundraising capacity.
Gordon's School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gordon's School
- Legal name
- Gordon's School
- Website
- https://gordons.school
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1885
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Gordon's School is an independent boarding and day school in Woking, Surrey, founded in 1885, serving students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13 with tuition-based recurring revenue, eleven boarding houses, and award-winning academic and pastoral provision.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gordon's School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Education (Boarding and Day Secondary School)
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB)
Keywords
Where Gordon's School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Woking
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gordon's School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition and Boarding Fees: Gordon's School operates as a fee-paying independent boarding school with residential and day boarding options. Revenue is generated through annual tuition and boarding charges for students in Years 7-13.
- School Merchandise: Online shop selling branded merchandise including uniforms, accessories, and commemorative items. Proceeds support the school and its students.
- Venue Hire: School facilities are available for hire to external parties, generating additional revenue streams.
- Insurance Schemes: School facilitates personal effects, personal accident, and student absence insurance schemes through Marsh Brokers and AXA Healthcare, with commissions or administrative fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Personal Effects Insurance |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Absence Insurance |
| Subscription | Annual | Sports Scholarships |
| Subscription | Annual | Creative Arts Scholarships |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels14 records
Gordon's School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gordon's School is an independent boarding and day school delivering secondary education for students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13), combining GCSE, A-Level, BTEC, and Extended Project Qualification pathways with supervised residential boarding across 11 houses. The school supplements its academic curriculum with over 100 co-curricular activities, leadership development, and dedicated careers education aligned with all eight Gatsby Benchmarks. Additional paid offerings include venue hire, an online merchandise shop, and optional insurance schemes for personal effects and student absence.
Product overview
Gordon's School is a boarding and day secondary school providing comprehensive education for Years 7-13. The institution operates a unified educational programme combining rigorous academic curriculum across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 with extensive co-curricular offerings. The product portfolio includes the core Secondary Education Programme with over 26 GCSE and A-Level subjects, a Residential and Day Boarding Programme with 11 houses, the Liberal Arts interdisciplinary course, TEFL qualification, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Leadership Programme, Gordon's Honours Programme, and a Gordon's Merchandise shop. The academic offering is complemented by sports (14 sports with 600+ fixtures), creative arts, music with Pipes and Drums, Combined Cadet Force, Model United Nations, Debating, and public speaking programmes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Secondary Education Programme Comprehensive secondary education for Years 7-13 covering Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, with Main School admissions for Years 7-11 and Sixth Form for Years 12-13. Delivered to fee-paying families and day/boarding students.
- Boarding Programme Residential and day boarding options with dedicated houses including Augusta, Balmoral, Buckingham, China, Gravesend, Kensington, Khartoum, Sandringham, Victoria, Windsor, and Woolwich, available to students in Years 7-13.
- Co-Curricular Activities Programme Extensive programme including Leadership & Service, Societies, Pipes and Drums, Sports (Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Climbing, Cricket, Football, Golf, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Rugby 7s, Tennis), Creative Arts, Adventurous Pursuits, and Academic Pursuits, offered to all enrolled students.
- Liberal Arts Course Compulsory interdisciplinary course covering Arts, Humanities, Social Science and Sciences with topics including Myths and Mysteries, Epistemology, Finance, History of Sport, Ethics, AI: Staying Ahead of the Wave, and Philosophy, delivered to students.
- TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Recognised international qualification offered to Sixth Form students during Summer Term for those exploring teaching abroad or considering a teaching career.
- Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Freestanding AS qualification worth up to 28 UCAS points, open to Year 12 students, developing planning, project management, academic research, and independent study skills.
- Gordon's Honours Programme Academic enrichment programme with ten PTI Subject Leadership marks awarded for outstanding teaching, offering advanced learning opportunities to enrolled students.
- Gordon's Merchandise Shop Online shop selling branded merchandise including uniforms, accessories, commemorative items, and Gordon's themed products with online purchasing and reception collection.
- Venue Hire School facilities including sports fields, performance spaces, and event venues available for external hire to generate supplementary revenue.
- Insurance Schemes Personal effects, personal accident, and student absence insurance schemes facilitated through Marsh Brokers and AXA Healthcare, with commissions or administrative fees, offered to enrolled students and families.
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 5% student progress at A Levels for schools in England and Wales
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Gordon's School
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gordon's School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
Gordon's School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Harlequins Rugby Football UnioncoreGordon's/Harlequins Partnership Programmes for Sixth Form students. The partnership offers specialist rugby development programmes and expression of interest applications for prospective students. Joint sports development initiative connecting school rugby programme with professional club infrastructure.
- Arete Schools PartnershipcoreGordon's participates in the Arete Schools Partnership, a network of schools sharing best practices and educational resources. Partnership focuses on collaborative professional development and shared educational initiatives.
- Gordonians (Alumni Association)coreThe Gordonians is the official alumni association of Gordon's School, connecting former students with the school community through events, networking, fundraising, and the Gordonian Awards programme. Alumni contribute to school community through mentorship, donations, and event attendance.
- Friends of Gordon'sminorParent and community support group that runs events and fundraising activities for the school. Provides community connection and supplementary funding for school initiatives.
- Marsh BrokersminorInsurance broker providing personal effects insurance scheme for students. Facilitates optional insurance coverage for student belongings during school term.
- AXA HealthcareminorPrivate medical insurance provider offering healthcare coverage for school students through the school. Available via dedicated application link and full policy information.
- Colegio AyaldeminorSpanish school in Bilbao that Gordon's MUN team has visited to participate in international Model United Nations conferences. Partnership enables cross-cultural educational exchange through MUN programme.
- Royal Hospital SchoolminorHost venue for Gordon's MUN team participation in Model United Nations conferences. Regular conference attendance at this independent school.
- Reigate Grammar SchoolminorRegular host for Gordon's MUN team participation in Model United Nations conferences. Annual conference attendance including junior MUN events.
- Royal Russell International SchoolminorHost venue for Gordon's MUN team participation in international Model United Nations conferences. Annual attendance including milestone 40th anniversary conference.
- HaileyburyminorHost venue for Gordon's MUN team participation in Model United Nations conferences. Annual conference attendance with multiple award wins.
- Wycombe AbbeyminorHost venue for Gordon's MUN team participation in Model United Nations conferences.
- Guildford MUNminorLocal Model United Nations conference host in Guildford. Gordon's MUN team participates in November each year.
- Active SurreyminorPartnership with Active Surrey and Surrey School Games providing opportunities for Gordon's students to lead and assist with local competitions for primary and secondary schools.
- Sports Leaders UKminorAccrediting body for Level 2 Sports Leadership Award available to Year 11 and 12 students. Nationally recognised qualification delivered through core PE lessons.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gordon's School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Haileybury: Leading UK independent co-educational boarding school in Hertfordshire with strong traditions in academic, sporting, and pastoral excellence. Comparable in offering full/weekly boarding, comprehensive co-curricular, and Forces Families support pathways.
- Charterhouse School: Historic UK independent boarding school in Surrey offering education to ages 13-18. Comparable heritage (founded 1611), academic excellence, and boarding-centric model in shared Surrey market.
- Epsom College: Independent co-educational boarding school in Surrey with full, weekly, and flexi-boarding. Strong competitor in Surrey catchment area with similar academic and Forces Families positioning.
- Duke of York's Royal Military School: State-funded boarding school with strong military heritage serving Forces Families. Most direct peer in terms of Forces Families specialism and boarding-focused delivery model.
- Wycombe Abbey: Elite UK independent girls' boarding school in Buckinghamshire with strong academic and co-curricular traditions. Comparable premium-tier boarding positioning and Oxford/Cambridge preparation focus.
- Royal Russell School: Independent co-educational day and boarding school in Croydon, South London. Comparable offering of full/weekly/flexi boarding alongside academic and extensive co-curricular programmes including MUN.
- Royal Hospital School: Independent boarding school in Suffolk with naval heritage, offering secondary education with full and flexi-boarding. Directly comparable military-heritage positioning and Forces Families orientation to Gordon's.
- Reigate Grammar School: Independent co-educational day and boarding school in Surrey offering secondary education to ages 11-18. Direct competitor in the Surrey independent boarding market, sharing geographic catchment and similar MUN/competitive co-curricular offerings.
Others
- Aretê Schools Partnership: Network of independent schools sharing best practices and educational resources, of which Gordon's is a member. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
Regional players
- St John's School, Leatherhead: Independent co-educational day and boarding school in Surrey offering secondary education. Direct geographic competitor in Surrey independent market though smaller boarding provision than Gordon's.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gordon's School social profiles
Digital presenceGordon's School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Gordon's School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gordon's School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Gordon's School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gordon's School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gordon's School
What does Gordon's School do?
Gordon's School is an independent boarding and day school delivering secondary education for students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13), combining GCSE, A-Level, BTEC, and Extended Project Qualification pathways with supervised residential boarding across 11 houses. The school supplements its academic curriculum with over 100 co-curricular activities, leadership development, and dedicated careers education aligned with all eight Gatsby Benchmarks. Additional paid offerings include venue hire, an online merchandise shop, and optional insurance schemes for personal effects and student absence.
Is Gordon's School a public or private company?
Gordon's School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Gordon's School founded?
Gordon's School was founded in 1885. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Gordon's School based?
Gordon's School is headquartered in Woking, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Gordon's School make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Boarding Fees are the primary driver. The others are school Merchandise, venue Hire and insurance Schemes.
Who are Gordon's School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Haileybury, Charterhouse School, Epsom College, Duke of York's Royal Military School, Wycombe Abbey, Royal Russell School, Royal Hospital School and Reigate Grammar School. Aretê Schools Partnership is listed as an others. St John's School, Leatherhead is listed as a regional player.
Does Gordon's School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gordon's School.
What industry is Gordon's School in?
Gordon's School's product category is Independent Education (Boarding and Day Secondary School). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAB, Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.